Ball-tossing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A ball-tossing device is disclosed including a declining ball alley having side walls for ball containment, a ball entrance end capable of securing a ball track extension, wherein the ball track extension is bracketed to a rear end for supplying additional balls, a motor assembly for receiving and further containing the balls from the entrance end, a declining front ball track attached to the ball alley for receiving balls from the motor assembly, and an adjustable ball angle deflector at a bottom end of the ball track, wherein the adjustable ball angle deflector allows for an outward projection of balls having varying weights to a user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to devices for enabling a baseballplayer to practice striking a ball. Specifically, the present relates toan original device for positioning a ball, particularly a baseball, in aposition desired by a batter and for automatically delivering successiveballs to the same position after each ball is struck by the batter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The main object of the present invention is to develop andimprove hand-eye coordination for players in the field of tennis,softball and baseball, by gravitationally feeding and automaticallydelivering balls at various timed intervals to a set location for theindividual player. The present invention provides a tool for the playersin these fields to consistently work at developing quick hand speed,building strength in driving the ball. The present invention can be usedat all ages and all levels from T-ball to the professional leagues inorder to improve the proper mechanics of the user. Many machines in thepast have attempted to develop hitting skills and have only provenmoderate success in developing hand-eye coordination, correct stance,and bat speed. Generally, the prior art machines propel and hurl a ballat various speeds, angles, and curves, but such machines are verylimited and often require another person to feed the unit. The presentinvention has many new improvements, such as the ability to throw tennisballs, softballs, and baseballs at variable timed intervals along anattached downward ball track and then passing across an angled deflectorattached to the bottom of the track for creating the correct arc andoutward projection.

[0003] Accordingly, what is lacking is self-operated portable,inexpensive device for tossing balls that facilitates the development ofsolid basic mechanics and proper contact in hitting a moving object, hasvariable speed, and permits varying time intervals for a ball to bedeflected up and outward to the hitter and driven into a net or an openfield, then returning back to an original position for the next ball tobe delivered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned needs for aball tossing apparatus by providing a ball-tossing device that issupported by an adjustable stand gravitationally feeding a number ofballs in an inclined position. At a front release point, attached to anouter sidewall, there is an adjustable height electronic motorcontrolling the variable time-release intervals. A bearing with a roundwheel turns and releases balls substantially evenly to an attached frontdeclining ball track, where balls roll downward and pass over anadjustable ball angle deflector. The adjustable ball angle deflector canincrease the pitch angle to compensate for various size balls andweights for correct outward movement and ball projection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the ball-tossing apparatus of thepresent invention including a ball track extension.

[0006]FIG. 2 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing amotorized ball release.

[0007]FIG. 3 is another isometric view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0008]FIG. 4 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0009]FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0010] Referring now to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated as ball-tossing apparatus 10. Ball-tossingapparatus 10 includes ball container 1 for holding and serving a numberof balls to individual players. An extension track 5 to the rear of ballcontainer 1 is mounted to a release point. A motor assembly 2 having abearing and a circular rotating wheel 6 extending from the inner mostside of motor assembly 2, turns and releases the balls in a forwardmotion along the attached track 3 to the user at various timedintervals. A perpendicular arm 2A is attached to the outer side of motorassembly 2, and is then slid into a side bracket 2B that is mounted tothe outer side wall of ball container, allowing motor assembly 2 and theattached circular rotating wheel 6 (as it rotates and touches each ball)to be raised or lowered for various ball sizes and further allows forthe variable speed timed release. A set screw on the attached sidebracket to ball container 1 can be used to lock the desired position ascircular round wheel 6 turns and releases each individual ball at thedesignated timed release. The balls then move forward and downwardacross ball track 3. Attached to the end of ball track 3 is a bracket 7with front and back set screws 7 a and 7 b and curved angle balldeflector 4. By loosening one set screw and tightening the other, theuser can automatically change the angle of curved ball deflector 4,varying the preferred angle of deflection for the various ball sizes.

[0011] Referring now to FIG. 2, a top view of the ball container 1containing balls 8 to be released is mounted to the front release point,and motor assembly 2 with circular rotating wheel 6 extending from theinner most side of motor assembly 2, releases balls 8 along downwardangled attached ball track 3, which progress forward and pass overupward curved ball angle deflector 4 to be served to the user at variousintervals.

[0012] Referring now to FIG. 3, ball container 1 includes a number ofballs 8 loaded therein, a front release point mounted on the outer sidewall, motor assembly 2 with circular round rotating wheel 6 to restrainballs 8 and turning and then releasing each ball at various timedintervals to attached downward angled ball track 3 gravitationallyincreasing a downward and forward motion across adjustable ball angledeflector 4 to the desired delivery zone for the user.

[0013] Referring now to FIG. 4, ball extension track 5 can be an addedfeature if a larger space area is available and is attached to the rearbracket of ball container 1 for holding a number of balls 8 progressingtoward motor assembly 2. A bearing with attached circular rotating roundwheel 6 turns and rotates, releasing each ball forward across fronttrack 3 at equal and variable timed intervals. A perpendicular arm isattached to the outer side of motor assembly 2 and sliding into abracket 2 b on the outer sidewall of container 1 at the release point,thus allowing motor assembly 2 to be raised or lowered for variable ballsizes and further also allowing for a variable desired faster or slowertimed release. By raising motor assembly 2, turning circular wheel 6will slightly touch the ball, thus releasing at a faster interval,whereas lowering motor assembly 2 causes more ball touch and thuscontains each ball longer as it turns to a slower release interval. Aset screw on side arm 2 a will lock the desired position. At the pointof release, the ball progresses downward across ball track 3, which isattached to the bottom end by bracket 7 and front and back set screws 7a and 7 b. By loosening one set screw and tightening the other, curvedangle ball deflector 4 will change its angle of deflection up or down,varying the preferred angle to accommodate for the various weights andball sizes for the individual player.

[0014] Referring now to FIG. 5, balls 8 in the container 1 are shownprogressing forward and being released at timed intervals by motorassembly 2 having attached rotating wheel 6 rotating and releasing eachball downward along front track 3, a perpendicular arm 2 b attached tomotor assembly 2 allowing motor assembly 2 to be raised, therebyreleasing each ball faster. Lowering motor assembly 2 will produce aslower rate. To compensate for various ball sizes, a set screw on motorassembly 2 can lock the desired position so that as individual balls arereleased, they progress downward along attached ball track 3 andattached ball deflector 4. Set screws 7 a and 7 b determine the angle ofrelease; loosening one set screw and tightening the other will vary thedesired angle of pitch for balls of various size and weight.

[0015] Although only a few exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the artwill readily appreciate that numerous modifications are to the exemplaryembodiments are possible without materially departing from the novelteachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of thisinvention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A ball tossing device, comprising: a decliningball alley having side walls for ball containment; a ball entrance endcapable of securing a ball track extension, wherein said ball trackextension is bracketed to a rear end for supplying additional balls; amotor assembly for receiving and further containing said balls from saidentrance end; a declining front ball track attached to said ball alleyfor receiving balls from said motor assembly; and an adjustable ballangle deflector at a bottom end of said ball track, wherein saidadjustable ball angle deflector allows for an outward projection ofballs having varying weights to a user.
 2. The ball-tossing deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said motor assembly includes a bearingattached to a circular rotating ball release
 3. The ball-tossing deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said motor assembly can be raised for afaster timed release of balls from said ball alley to said front balltrack.
 4. The ball-tossing device according to claim 1 wherein saidmotor assembly can be lowered for slower timed release of balls fromsaid ball alley to said front ball track.
 5. The ball-tossing deviceaccording to claim 2 wherein said circular rotating ball release can beraised to allow for variable timed release intervals for balls to saidfront ball track.
 6. The ball-tossing device according to claim 2wherein said circular rotating ball release can be lowered to allow forvariable timed release intervals for balls to said front ball track.